"Ben" William Benjamin SWEETMAN
Born 1865 in Fremantle, Western Australia [15]
Son of Henry SWEETMAN and Elizabeth ADAMS [15]
Married Elizabeth PAYNE in 1887 in Fremantle [15]
In 1904 he travelled with his wife and children in a buggy from Fremantle to Arrino, where he selected land [120: 26-Dec-1929]
Farmer in Arrino from 1904 until 1928 [19] [120: 26-Dec-1929] [P2]
Also operated as a Building Contractor in partnership with his son, trading as "W. B. Sweetman & Son" [9: 25-Oct-1907]
In 1907 they built a house for PARKER Bros on Glenwillie Farm in Winchester [9: 25-Oct-1907]
Presided over the gathering at the Arrino railway station to farewell William and Florence TIMMS on 17 March 1911 [9: 24-Mar-1911]
Won the Old Buffers' Race at the sports gathering held in Arrino on New Year's Day in 1913 [9: 17-Jan-1913]
Presided over the Patriotic Concert held at the railway goods shed in Arrino on Friday 18 December 1914 [10: 25-Dec-1914]
Member of the Arrino Cemetery Board - was Secretary in 1915 [9: 5-Nov-1915]
Signed the petition and financial guarantee in 1917 for the Midland Railway Company to provide a resident doctor at Three Springs [34]
His horse Doctor won the Hack Race at the Saint Patrick's Day Sports held in Three Springs on 16 March 1918 [10: 22-Mar-1918]
His horse Peaceful Boy came 2nd in the Trial Stakes at the Three Springs Races held on Thursday 6 March 1919 [9: 14-Mar-1919]
At the Sports Meeting in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day 17 March 1919 his horse Peaceful Boy won the Maiden Plate [124]
Won 1st prize for the Best Gentlemens Hack at the Three Springs Picnic Meeting on 25 September 1919 [9: 3-Oct-1919]
Donated 10/6 to the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1925 [124]
Vice President of the Picnic Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day Tuesday 17 March 1925 [124]
One of his horses won the Carnamah Cup, the main race at the Carnamah Races held on Thursday 25 March 1926 [9: 2 & 9-Apr-1926]
Attended the Confetti Carnival held in Carnamah on Saturday 3 April 1926 at which he was presented with the Carnamah Cup [9]
Purchased Ned DODD's old shop and block in Arrino town, pulled down the shop and used its parts to make a shed on his farm [P2]
When his son Henry married in 1928 he built a four roomed house on the block and he and his wife retired to Arrino town [P2]
Attended the meeting held in Arrino on Saturday 13 April 1929 to discuss the affairs and finances of the Arrino Hall [4: 20-Apr-1929]
He was Father Christmas at the Christmas Tree in Arrino on 21 December 1929, which was attended by 100 children [4: 4-Jan-1930]
Ending in 1930 he financially assisted the Arrino Cemetery Board to the extent of £12 [4: 18-Oct-1930]
Member of the Arrino Hall Committee in 1930 [4: 10-May-1930]
In November 1930 advertised that he had a shop in Arrino for rent, that was fitted with shelves and a counter [4: 22-Nov-1930]
Member of the Arrino branch of the Primary Producers' Association [4: 20-Dec-1930]
Received permission from the Three Springs Road Board to erect a petrol bowser outside his premises in Arrino in 1931 [4: 15-Aug-1931]
Made the presentations to Edward and Persis DAVEY at their public farewell at the Arrino Hall on 14 March 1932 [39: 21-Mar-1932]
Along with his wife spent a few days holiday in Dongara in early August 1933[5: 4-Aug-1933]
Appeared as a witness for farmer George STOKES when he was summoned to the Three Springs Police Court in 1933 [5: 13-Oct-1933]
After a holiday in Dongara he and his wife returned to Arrino by car on Wednesday 27 June 1934 [5: 29-Jun-1934]
Speaker at the Farewell tendered to Henry and Ethel TOWNSEND at the Arrino Hall on Friday 14 June 1935 [5: 21-Jun-1935]
In August 1935 he aided the Three Springs Road Board in the identification of graves in the Arrino Cemetery [5: 16-Aug-1935]
He and his wife were again absent from Arrino for most of August 1935 owing to spending a holiday at Dongara [5: 9 & 30-Aug-1935]
Among those who protested in 1935 against the Three Springs Road Board spending their rates on tennis courts in Arrino [5: 27-Sep-1935]
In October 1935 signed a petition in support of the Three Springs Road Board constructing new tennis courts in Arrino [5: 1-Nov-1935]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Mingenew pioneer Mrs Mary J. STEPHEN of Arrino at the Mingenew Cemetery in 1939 [4: 19-Aug-1939]
Attended the funeral of Arrino resident Mrs Ellen DEE at the Three Springs Cemetery on 16 August 1939 [4: 19-Aug-1939]
Later resided in the Perth suburb of Bickley [2]
Father of Benjamin, Henry John William, Elsie, Isabella, Helena Mena, Alfred Edward and Laurie [15]
Died 9 March 1953; cremated at the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA [2]
His wife Elizabeth, late of Bickley, died at the age of 85 years on 6 December 1957 [2]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William Benjamin Sweetman' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-benjamin-sweetman [reference list] |
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